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If you are pressed for time and can only read some of today’s article, skip the beginning and go straight to the section towards the end entitled, “Religion Defined.” -- RB There is no real history as to the origin of religion. So, here’s my version:
You are in a cave. It’s raining. You are scared. Really scared. Thunder. Lightning. You are terrified. Those with you huddled around the fire are also worried, distressed, and anxious.
Someone suggests asking the tree outside the cave for help; since this makes as much sense as anything else, you do.
Together, you beg the tree that seems unaffected by the deluge to make the water stop pouring down from the sky.
And, miraculously — or by coincidence (it's hard to tell which) — the rain lets up. The tree, it seems, helped.
As a symbolic way of thanking the tree (and perhaps to curry favor with the tree in the future) you place ashes from your fire at its base. This both nurtures the tree and keeps you remembering the importance of gratitude.
The next time it rains, you know what to do.
Religion is born.
Note: There is a difference between religion (connection with the holy) and organized religion (a set of goals and paths to the holy). The main difference is the inclusion of the word organized.)
The view that the origins of religion is based in totemism was put forth by 20th Century Polish anthropologist Bronisław Kasper Malinowski . He theorized that as societies mature, what once was considered magic becomes religion. He continued to say that what once was considered religion becomes science.
And, I think he is right.
I would also offer that we live in society so removed from the origins of religion that we frequently lose sight of the magic in our lives.
Religion Defined.
From the short tale about the tree above, we can learn what religion is really about. Religion, when you boil it down, is about a goal and a path to that goal.
I know that might seem too easy an answer, but it’s true.
· Religion = Path --> Goal
Religion is about a goal and a path to that goal.
This is what people mean when they say, "She exercises religiously." The goal is physical fitness, the path is physical activity like jogging or tennis or skiing.
And, right away we notice something. There can be more than one path to the same goal. If your goal is physical fitness, you can do many things to achieve it.
Moreover, let's examine the goal of physical fitness itself. For some the goal of physical fitness is bulking up and looking buff. For others, the goal of physical fitness might be having a healthy heart. For others, the goal of physical fitness might be flexibility.
Let me present an example where (I think) the path and goal are clear: this newsletter. The goal of The 77% Weekly is: "To encourage you to take your religious life into your own hands — helping you create paths and goals that fit your lifestyle — in order to help you find and be with (the) God (of your understanding)." The path: " this e-newsletter of something spiritual-religious to think about, delivered 40/52 weeks a year."
Now, let's look go back to examine the story of the rain and the tree. The goal was "keeping it from raining" and the path "pleading with the tree."
Or, the goal might be "finding comfort" or "being less frightened."
And, the path could be "imagining results" or "petition prayer."
You can begin to see how what was at first simple, actually is open to interpretation.
Triggers
There is one more element we need to add to our definition that religion is about a goal and a path to that goal. We need to take into account triggers.
Chronologically, a trigger is the first element of any religious path towards a goal. A trigger reminds you of a path and points you towards a goal. It's what triggers you.
In our example about the tree, the trigger could be the rain or feeling the sense of fear.
Triggers are either sense or time related. The former start with sensations: seeing, hearing, etc. The latter start with an event: every new moon, at meal times, in winter, etc.
Almost anything can qualify as a trigger event: picking up your keys, touching money, getting into bed, eating something larger than the size of an egg, seeing a string you tied to your finger, April 15, the last Thursday of the month of November, turning on a light switch, hearing a car horn, seeing a rainbow, feeling a twitch in your hand, knowing that the calendar says Tuesday, being scared, etc.
So, to review, triggers remind you of a path and point you towards a goal.
Numinosity.
Of course, the word religion usually has something to do with the numinous, which is just a fancy word for "of or relating to holiness, spirit, and/or God."
So, using what we learned above, the goal of religion — most of the time — is connecting with the numinous — or, as I like to write it — connecting with (the) God (of your understanding).
The paths (including the triggers) to that goal will vary with the individual.
What Real Religion Ought to Be.
Jiddu Krishnamurti, the 20th century writer and lecturer wrote in 1929, "I maintain that Truth is a pathless land."
How true. How true.
The paths and goals of religion are quite illusive and difficult to define.
Nonetheless, I am going to offer some definitions that I like. Hopefully they can help us remember the goal of our spiritual-religious lives.
Real religion is:
"[Real religion is...] seeking the face of God, striving both to live in God’s presence and to be holy.” (Arthur Green)
“Real religion is surrender.” (Muhammed)
“[Real religion is...] recognizing our inherent connectedness and knowing that we belong to the drama of the universe.” (Larry Hoffman)
“False religion is about how to get to heaven and how to avoid hell... real religion is about how to get through life once you've been through hell.” (Author unknown.)
“[Real religion is...] is not about self, but rather, about self-transcendence.” (Linda Thal)
“Real religion ought not shackle or limit people in their coming to an understanding of reality, God, or themselves; true religion sets people free.” (
Now, try adding a few of your own statements or favorite quotes.
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With love,
Rabbi Brian
